Exposing the gaps in Nordic exceptionalism on LGBTQ+ elder inclusion: evaluating the arena, strategic communication and dialogue with diverse LGBTQ+ communities

Purpose This study interrogates the strategic communication embedded in LGBTQ+ inclusion action plans across Nordic and Northern European countries. It critically examines how these public policy tools function as communicative artifacts that shape stakeholder engagement and represent – or marginalize – diverse LGBTQ+ voices, particularly older LGBTQ+ individuals. By doing so, it challenges assumptions of “Nordic exceptionalism” in LGBTQ+ inclusion. Design/methodology/approach Using rhetorical arena theory (RAT) and a rhetorical criticism methodology, the study analyzes 16 LGBTQ+ action plans from eight countries and their capitals. The methodology draws on Elias’s (2020) framework for inclusive civil rights communication to assess how action plans define the rhetorical arenas for LGBTQ+ engagement, set communicative priorities and foster or limit multivocal dialogue. Textual close reading and keyword mapping were applied to evaluate inclusion, representation and strategic intent. Findings Findings demonstrate that while action plans are positioned as strategic communication tools, many fail to represent the full diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Nordic plans, including those from Oslo and Norway, demonstrate limited dialogic engagement and insufficient inclusion of LGBTQ+ elders. In contrast, plans from Brussels, Berlin and Belgium more effectively address intersectionality, assign communicative responsibilities and create broader rhetorical arenas for participation. Many Nordic plans risk fostering rhetorical silence by relying on data collection over engagement, undermining strategic inclusion goals. Originality/value This study contributes to corporate communication scholarship by extending strategic communication theory into the public sector and examining how institutional discourse shapes marginalized stakeholder engagement. It uniquely foregrounds LGBTQ+ elder inclusion as a benchmark for evaluating intersectionality and communicative efficacy in policy.